Childproof actuator

ABSTRACT

A childproof actuator for an aerosol container includes a collar having a blocking portion resting on the container valve pedestal and extending part way around the stem, and a button having a finger adapted to engage the blocking portion when the button is in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position so that the button cannot be depressed.

United States Patent 1191 11/1964 ODonnell 1. 222/153 Hagianis Jan. 14, 1975 CHILDPROOF ACTUATOR 3,262,607 7/1966 Hirsch 222/40211 3,325,054 6 1967 B ZZZ/402.11 X [75] Inventor: Ernest Manchester 3,349,969 10/1967 222/1132 x 3,591,128 7/1971 Ramis 222/40211 x Assigneez Scoviu Manufacturing p y 3,749,286 7/1973 Douglas 222/153 Waterbury, Conn. Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves [22] Filed 1974 Assistant Examiner-Joseph J. Rolla [21] Appl. No.: 446,150 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dal1ett Hoopes Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 318,016, Dec. 26, 1972, [57] ABSTRACT abandoned.

A childproof actuator for an aerosol container in- [52] U.S. C1. 222/153 cludes a Collar having a blocking P0rtion resting on [51] 1m. (:1 B65d 83/14 the container valve pedestal and extending P y [58] Field of Search 222/153, 182, 402.11; around Stem, and a button having a finger adapted 215/9 to engage the blocking portion when the button is in the off position so that the button cannot be de- [56] References Cited P 3 158 292 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATH-HEB JAN 1 1915. 3,860,149

CHILDPROOF ACTUATOR. This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 318,016, filed Dec. 26, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to actuators for valves of aerosol containers and features a structure which isdifficult for persons of immature mentality to operate. As aresult, it is in the category of so-called childproof" aerosol actuators.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art,.there are a. number of patents which disclose two-piece aerosol actuators comprising acollar fitting about the mounting cup seam on the con-- tainer and an actuator button. The collar and the. button in the prior art are oftenarranged sothat the button and collar must be brought into proper'relativeposition in order to depress or tilt the actuator. to actuate the aerosol valve and dischargethe container. In the prior art, such two-piece childproof actuators generally feastem. As a consequence,.if the ringis low withrespect to the stem and valve, it maybepossibleto depress the button far enough to actuate.the.;valve.notwithstanding.

the locked or inoperativelrelativeposition ofthe collar and button. In otherwords, even in the locked position there may be sufficientvertical play between button and collar as to permitactuationofthe valve..

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION- In the presentinvention, there isprovidedia childproof actuator havinga more. orless conventional collar and buttonbut additionally providing abutton blocking portion on the;collar-which rests on'the:

mounting pedestal of the aerosol valve. As a result, the relationship between the ,toprof theblocking portion and the stem from'valve to valve is always the same, in-. variably precluding any actuation of .thevalve while the actuator is in the locked or off. position. The blocking portion is normally on an inward extension ofthe.

collar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF. THE DRAWINGS Other objectsand features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following specification,

including the drawings, all of which show anon-limiting embodiment of the invention. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of 1 the invention;

FIG. 2 shows in side elevation, partly in section, the

actuator of FIG. 1 installedon'the mounting cup seam of an aerosol container;

FIG.'3,is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the .line .4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 isan exploded view showing an-actuator assembly embodying the inventionand in perspective;

'stem S and the collar 12 which-is turnable on the ring FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a button embodying the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an inverted button embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and generally designated 10. It comprises a collar 12 and a button 14. As is conventional, the button may be in the shape of a truncated cone and is formed with a discharge passage 16 which extends upwardly from the center of the lower end of the button to an orifice 18, as is conventional. In use, thebutton l4 sits on the stem S of the aerosol valve in frictional engagement, relative rotation between the stem and button 14 being possible. As shown in FIG. 2, the button 14 is mounted on the container C having amounting cup MC, pedestal P, and a mounting cup seam CS. The stem S, as shown, extends upwardly from the center of the mounting cup MC.

The-collar 12 comprises an annular platform from the outer periphery of which depends a skirt 20 having inward'nibs 22adapted'to snap over the mounting cup seam CS, or ring. Such installation permits the rotation of the collar with'respect to the container C. The collar platform includes an inward extension 24 which, in installation, terminates adjacent'th'e stern S in a blocking portion 26 having a lower surface which sits on the mounting cup pedestal P. The upper surface of the blocking portion 26 provides asloping cam surface 28 (FIG. 3) and a plateau 30.

Surrounding the passage 16 (FIG. 2) the lower end I of the button 14 is provided with a downward boss having a radial finger 32. As shown, irrespective of the height'of the ring CS, the button 14 cannot be pressed in the position shown in FIG. 2 beyond the interference of the finger 32 with the blocking portion 26. However, as shown in FIG. 4, thebutton 14 whichis turnable on CS, may be relatively rotated so that the finger 32 and the blocking portion .26' do not interfere, making possible the depression of the button 14 and actuation of the valve. I

Additional elements of the collar 12 and the button l4zare' provided, which effect the relative rotation of the two parts; First, button 14 is provided wtih a downward stop 34 (FIG. 2) and the collar 12 has a partial upward cowl 36 which is formed with a pair of inward ribs 38 and 40 respectively. Byvirtue of this structure, the rotation of the button 14 is limited as it is turned by the hitting of the stop 34 on the ribs 38 and 40 respectively.

It will benoted that when the button is in the position shown in FIG. 4 with the stop 34 engaging the rib 40 at the most clockwise position of the button, the finger 32 is non-aligned with the blocking portion 36 therefore permitting actuation of the valve. When, however, the button 14 is turned counterclockwise until the stop 34 meets the rib 38,thefi'nger 32 has been cammed up slope 28 and is on the plateau 30 blocking depression of the'button and actuation of the valve.

As shown in FIG. 3, the collar 12 is formed with an inward nib 44. The button, at the level of the nib 44, is formed'with a peripheral flange 46 which extends as shown in FIG. 3, for instance, an arcuate length of perhaps one-thirdof the periphery of the button. This peripheral flange 46 comprises cam means and increases in pronouncement toward one of its ends at which is disposed a notch 48 adapted to receive the nib 44 of the collar when the actuator is in the locked position.

By virtue of the slow-rising flange 46, it is relatively easy to turn the button 14 in a counterclockwise direction relative to the collar 12 to the position shown in FIG. 3 whereat the nib 44 snaps into the notch 48. On the other hand, in the reverse direction, turning the button 14 relative to the collar 12 so that the nib 44 is displaced out of the notch 48, is a more difficult proposition. The result is that even if children discover the secret of the operation of the actuator, they may not have the strength or necessary determination to relatively turn the button and collar from the locked position. It is easy, however, to turn the two parts to the relative locked position as the nib 44 slides up cam 46.

A retainer flange 50 on the button cooperates with the top portion of the cowl 36 in holding the button in the collar.

As a result of the structure, the owner of the actuator disclosed may be confident that the collar 12, when in the locked position relative to the button 14, will not .permit the depression of the button to an actuating position. This is because of the height of the blocking portion 26 which, resting on the top of pedestal P, sets a uniform button stop level for the depression of the button irrespective of the height of the ring CS. A special feature of the invention is the locking means, including the nib 44 and notch 48, which make the relative rotation of the collar and the button 14 virtually impossible without the two-handed holding of the actuator with the collar in one hand and the button in the other, and

- the forcible turning in the proper direction. A simple turning of the button 14 or collar 12 while the actuator is in locked position will result in a rotation of the complete actuator with respect to the container as the button and the collar turn on their respective mountings.

it will thus be seen that the invention provides a unique, effective, childproof, actuator of simple construction and low cost.

Variations of the structure disclosed may be possible within the scope of the invention which may be defined by the following claim language:

I claim:

1. An aerosol container having at one end a vertically reciprocable or tiltable valve mounted in a mounting cup having a valve pedestal, the valve having an upwardly directed cylindrical discharge means, the pedestal being surrounded by a ring defined by the rolled end portions of the valve mounting cup and the container. and an actuator, the actuator comprising:

a. a plastic molded collar having an annular wall engaging the ring and attached thereto, the collar having a blocking portion of a predetermined height engaging on its bottom with the top of the valve pedestal, the blocking portion being disposed only on one side of the stem;

b. a molded plastic actuator button having a discharge passage inlet in the underside thereof and interfitting with the cylindrical discharge means and rotatably but frictionally engaged therewith, the button having a depending finger adjacent the discharge passage inlet adapted when the finger is in vertical alignment with the blocking portion to block depression of the button; and

c. a releasable lock for locking the collar and button with the finger and blocking portion in such relatively aligned blocked relation, the lock comprising a cooperating cam element and follower element, one of said elements being disposed on the inner surface of the collar and the other of said elements being disposedon the outer surface of the button, the cam element comprising a peripheral rib on one of the surfaces extending toward the other of the surfaces and gradually increasing in pronouncement toward one of the ends of the cam element and having a notch adjacent said end, the follower element comprising a projection from the other of the surfaces directed toward the said one surface, the projection being disposed in the notch at a relative position of rotation of the collar and button at which the finger is vertically aligned with the blocking portion.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cam element is disposed on the outer surface of the button and the follower element is disposed on the inner surface of the collar. 

1. An aerosol container having at one end a vertically reciprocable or tiltable valve mounted in a mounting cup having a valve pedestal, the valve having an upwardly directed cylindrical discharge means, the pedestal being surrounded by a ring defined by the rolled end portions of the valve mounting cup and the container, and an actuator, the actuator comprising: a. a plastic molded collar having an annular wall engaging the ring and attached thereto, the collar having a blocking portion of a predetermined height engaging on its bottom with the top of the valve pedestal, the blocking portion being disposed only on one side of the stem; b. a molded plastic actuator button having a discharge passage inlet in the underside thereof and interfitting with the cylindrical discharge means and rotatably but frictionally engaged therewith, the button having a depending finger adjacent the discharge passage inlet adapted when the finger is in vertical alignment with the blocking portion to block depression of the button; and c. a releasable lock for locking the collar and button with the finger and blocking portion in such relatively aligned blocked relation, the lock comprising a cooperating cam element and follower element, one of said elements being disposed on the inner surface of the collar and the other of said elements being disposed on the outer surface of the button, the cam element comprising a peripheral rib on one of the surfaces extending toward the other of the surfaces and gradually increasing in pronouncement toward one of the ends of the cam element and having a notch adjacent said end, the follower element comprising a projection from the other of the surfaces directed toward the said one surface, the projection being disposed in the notch at a relative position of rotation of the collar and button at which the finger is vertically aligned with the blocking portion.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cam element is disposed on the outer surface of the button and the follower element is disposed on the inner surface of the collar. 